Senior Principal Software Engineer

Rocket Software; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 143,000 - 193,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited PTO

Health coverage

Life & disability coverage

401(k) with match

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Rocket Software, based in Massachusetts, seeks a Senior Principal Software Engineer to lead and deliver World-class Workload Automation solutions. You will shape architecture, collaborate with customers and cross-functional teams, and drive secure, scalable automation across enterprise environments.

You will mentor global engineering teams, advance AI-enabled automation, and enable robust integrations with mainframe and hybrid cloud stacks. This role emphasizes API-first design and observability.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in software engineering, with 5+ in leadership.
• Deep automation and workload orchestration knowledge.
• Experience architecting hybrid cloud/mainframe platforms.
• Strong Java, Python, Go and API design skills.
• Excellent communication and collaboration across teams.

Responsibilities

• Create and maintain the automation solution architecture.
• Direct requirements and backlog alignment with vision.
• Evaluate function/value streams for future use cases.
• Lead technical debt assessment and resolution.
• Explore automation integration across Rocket and partners.

Skills

Automation expertise

Workload orchestration

Hybrid cloud

z/OS & HLASM

API design

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/SE

Tools

HLASM

Java

Python

Go

REST APIs

Job description

Job Description Summary

The Infrastructure Modernization business unit is seeking a Senior Principal Software Engineer to serve as a visionary and hands‑on technical leader for our Workload Automation solutions.

These solutions are foundational to our customers’ ability to automate business critical processes/workflows, ensure predictable batch workload execution, and modernize software engineering, development, and deployment processes. This responsibility requires deep expertise in automation technologies and practices, and runbook operational responsibilities.

In this role, this person will be a recognized thought leader, driving the evolution of our Automation product lines to meet enterprise mainframe and hybrid cloud environment. You will collaborate with customers, engineering teams, sales, and product management teams to ensure our offerings deliver robust protection, highly reliable, performant, operationally simple, and highly secure.

Key Modernization Initiatives

• Embedding generative and predictive AI to enhance predictable operational outcomes, build workflow processes, and effectively integrate automation into enterprises. In short, modernize our approach to pan‑enterprise automation.
• Architecting scalable, resilient automation platforms that support dynamic workloads
• Developing modern, secure APIs to improve integration with enterprise batch, business process workflow ecosystems and observability platforms.
• Streamlining deployment and configuration compatible with modern deployment containerization and provisioning technologies.
• Deliver solutions that automate workflows seamlessly across the entire hybrid enterprise computing stack

Key Role Responsibilities

• Create and maintain the automation solution architecture that demonstrates key capabilities and value that customers require today and may well require tomorrow
• Direct requirements and backlog maintenance to ensure alignment with key vision and product direction.
• Evaluates and recommend key function and value streams necessary to address future vision-based use cases that will allow us to achieve:
• Competitive differentiation
• Market leading (e.g., Gartner Magic Quadrant)
• Full function vs. niche alignment based on strategy dictates
• Build vs. Buy recommendations
• Lead and advise on technical debt assessment and resolution
• Explore and advocate for automation integration opportunities across Rocket and our Partner ecosystems.

Minimum Qualifications

• 10+ years of professional software engineering/technical product experience, including at least 5 years in a principal or senior technical leadership role.
• Deep knowledge of automation technologies and workload orchestration.
• Proven experience architecting scalable, resilient platforms for hybrid cloud and mainframe environments.
• Strong proficiency in z Assembler (HLASM), system diagnostics, and the z/OS architecture as well as modern programming languages (e.g., Java, Python, Go, or similar) and API design.
• Familiarity with observability platforms, security best practices, and performance optimization.
• Demonstrated ability to define technical vision and roadmap for enterprise‑scale solutions.
• Experience acting as a player‑coach, mentoring global engineering teams while contributing technically.
• Strong collaboration skills with cross‑functional teams (Product Management, Sales, Customer Engineering).
• Expertise in enterprise workload automation, batch processing, and integration with business process workflows.
• Understanding of AI/ML integration for predictive and generative automation use cases.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills for engaging with customers and executive stakeholders.
• Ability to work in a global, distributed development environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field

Annual salary range for this position is between $143,000.00 - $193,050.00 gross before taxes.

Benefits

• Unlimited Vacation Time as well as paid holidays and sick time
• Health and Wellness coverage options for Rocketeers and dependents
• Life and disability coverage
• Fidelity 401(k) and Roth Retirement Savings with matching contributions
• Monthly student debt benefit program
• Tuition Reimbursement and Certificate Reimbursement Program opportunities
• Leadership and skills training opportunities

EOE M/F/Vet/Disability. Rocket Software Inc. is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. Rocket Software Inc. is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.

At Rocket Software, we believe AI is a critical enabler of innovation and productivity. All Rocketeers are expected to actively leverage AI‑powered tools and technologies, where appropriate, to enhance efficiency, improve decision‑making, and deliver greater impact in their roles. Embracing continuous learning and the responsible use of AI is an essential part of how we work.

Rocket is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you need special assistance or an accommodation while seeking employment, please call: 781-577-4321 or send an email to [e-mail]. We will make a determination on your request for reasonable accommodation on a case‑by‑case basis.

As part of our commitment to a safe and trustworthy workplace, we include background and reference checks in our hiring process.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

If you like wild growth and working with happy, enthusiastic over‑achievers, you'll enjoy your career with us!

Companies around the world trust Rocket to solve their most complex business challenges by powering their critical infrastructure, business processes, and data. We help extend the value of these assets, enabling our customers to embrace the potential of cloud and mobile computing, advanced analytics, and the innovations of tomorrow. From the clothes we wear to the cars we drive, Rocket solutions power the back‑end systems that thousands of brands rely on every day.

At Rocket, software is about more than just code—it’s about people. We are passionate problem‑solvers, working to make a difference for others. Our foundation is built on empathy, humanity, trust, and love, and we strive to embody these core values in everything we do. Whether we’re serving our customers, partners, or fellow Rocketeers, we are committed to treating everyone with the respect and care they deserve.

Founded in 1990, Rocket Software is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts, and has 20 offices worldwide, bringing people and technology together to build a better future.